Nano-Fertilizers for Sustainable Crop Production under Changing Climate: A Global Perspective

Since green revolution, chemical fertilizers are deemed an indispensable input of modern crop production systems, but these have associated environmental and ecological consequences. Loss of nutrients from agricultural fields in the form of leaching and gaseous emissions has been the leading cause of environmental pollution and climate change. Ensuring the sustainability of crop production necessitates exploring other sources of nutrients and modifying prevalent nutrient sources. Nanotechnology, which utilizes nanomaterials of less than 100 nm size, may offer an unprecedented opportunity to develop concentrated sources of plant nutrients having higher-absorption rate, utilization efficacy, and minimum losses. Nanofertilizers are being prepared by encapsulating plant nutrients into nanomaterials, employing thin coating of nanomaterials on plant nutrients, and delivering in the form of nano-sized emulsions. Nano-pores and stomatal openings in plant leaves facilitate nanomaterial uptake and their penetration deep inside leaves leading to higher nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Nanofertilizers have higher transport and delivery of nutrients through plasmodesmata, which are nanosized (50–60 nm) channels between cells. The higher NUE and significantly lesser nutrient losses of nanofertilizers lead to higher productivity (6–17%) and nutritional quality of field crops. However, production and availability, their sufficient effective legislation, and associated risk management are the prime limiting factors in their general adoption as plant nutrient sources

Optimizing Nitrogen Level to Improve Growth and Grain Yield of Spring Planted Irrigated Maize (Zea mays L.)

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients required by plants for vegetative growth and development. To investigate the effect of different levels of nitrogen on growth as well as grain yield of spring planted maize under irrigated conditions of central Punjab, a field trial was executed at Research Area of Maize and Millet Research Institute, Yousafwala Sahiwal, Punjab Pakistan, during 2009. The experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) which was replicated thrice. Maize (cv. Sadaf) was sown in 75 cm apart rows, while plant to plant distance was maintained at 20 cm. Five levels of nitrogen (100, 120, 140, 160 and 180 kg per hectare) were employed as experimental treatments. Results revealed that all levels of nitrogen influenced the yield components as well as grain yield of maize. The highest grain yield (6.93 t ha-1) and biological yield (12.91 t ha-1) was given by nitrogen applied at the rate of 180 kg/ha. Similarly, the maximum number of grains per cob (471.3) and 1000-grain yield (328.4 g) was given by 180 kg/ha of nitrogen. The plant height, number of leaves per plant and stem diameter were also increased with increased level of applied nitrogen. Thus higher doses of nitrogen have the potential to give comparatively higher grain yield of spring planted irrigated maize

Effect of Seed Invigoration Techniques on Germination and Seedling Growth of Chinese Sweet Sorghum

To assess the comparative efficacy of different priming techniques on the germination and growth of Chinese sweet sorghum, a laboratory trial was conducted at Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2013. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design (CRD) and was replicated thrice. The treatments included control treatment (T1) with no seed priming, seed priming with 1% KNO3 for 12 hours (T2), seed priming with 1% CaCl2 for 12 hours (T3), seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T4), 10% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T5) and 15% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T6) and hydro-priming with distilled water for 12 hours (T7). The results showed that seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T4) was the best seed priming technique as it gave the maximum final germination percentage and the minimum time for 50% germination as well as mean emergence time. This treatment also gave significantly the highest number of roots and leaves along with root and shoots length. Thus seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract has the potential to give the highest germination as well as seedling growth and development

Prevalence of Substance Abuse Screening Of Adults by Pediatricians

As the heroin epidemic grips our country, teenage substance abuse in Punjab, much like other states, is increasing at alarming rates. Prevention and educational efforts as a result of screening and a focus on long term and sustainable goals of impacting the heroin epidemic need to be implemented now to have the greatest effect. In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement which recommends pediatricians provide instruction regarding substance abuse during their clinical interactions with adolescents. This study utilizes the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) through the use of a modified Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire (DIBQ) to survey pediatricians practicing within a rural region regarding substance abuse screening and intervention of their teenage patients. Use of TDF theory in the development of the DIBQ tool could reveal the specific challenges and barriers to substance abuse screening and the development and implementation of interventions useful in influencing the adoption of the AAP policy by pediatricians. The results of this study determined time as the largest barrier to compliance with the AAP policy, followed by confidentiality issues, limited resources for treatment, and patient level of honesty. All of the study respondents indicated awareness of and compliance with the AAP policy, most participants stated they had not been trained in the use of screening tools

Potential Economic and Household Income Gains from Trade Liberalization by Using MyGTAP Model

The current study attempted to calculate the potential gains/losses to the household income in Pakistan. The study has employed MyGTAP model which was initially developed by Minor & Walmsley (2012) and is extension of standard GTAP model. The standard GTAP model was linked with a representative household model by using the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) to capture the effects of trade liberalization on economic growth and income distribution. The study used eight different simulations to calculate the impact of trade agreements with EU, SAARC, China and India and found a significant rise in economic growth. Regardless of some limitations, the model developed in this study produced significant results that may help to explain the current debate on trade liberalization. The results of the study conclude that it is manufacturing sector that may help to improve the income of all types of household and economic growth

Potential Economic and Household Income Gains from Trade Liberalization by Using MyGTAP Model

The current study attempted to calculate the potential gains/losses to the household income in Pakistan. The study has employed MyGTAP model which was initially developed by Minor & Walmsley (2012) and is extension of standard GTAP model. The standard GTAP model was linked with a representative household model by using the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) to capture the effects of trade liberalization on economic growth and income distribution. The study used eight different simulations to calculate the impact of trade agreements with EU, SAARC, China and India and found a significant rise in economic growth. Regardless of some limitations, the model developed in this study produced significant results that may help to explain the current debate on trade liberalization. The results of the study conclude that it is manufacturing sector that may help to improve the income of all types of household and economic growth

Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Weight Loss in Morbid Obese Patients

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss in morbidly obese patients at Capital Hospital, Islamabad. Methodology: This descriptive case series study was done at Capital Hospital, CDA, Islamabad during a period of one-year from February 2019 to January 2020. All the patients with a body mass index of 35 or greater, with or without comorbidities, aged 18 to 65 years of either gender were included. All the patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss. At the 1st, third, and 6th month’s follow-up, postoperative weight loss was noted. Effectiveness was taken in terms of > 10% weight loss maintained at 6 months.  Results: The overall study participants' average age was 57±9.77 years, and females were in the majority (62%). Overall, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was effective in 85% of patients and was not effective in 15% of patients. The average BMI was 37.31 kg/m2. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy showed effectiveness in 57 (85%) patients, while 10 (15%) of the patients' weight was not lost. Effectiveness was statistically insignificant according to age, gender, and comorbidities, p-values were quite insignificant (>0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was observed to be an effective technique for weight loss in morbid obese patients. It did decrease the morbidities and improve the quality of life

Grasslands Development for Ecotourism: Aesthetic Perspectives

Grasslands (also known as savanna, prairie, steppe, and pampas) are natural or seminatural areas encompassing vegetation belonging to the family Poaceae as the most dominant vegetation, while, sedges and rushes may also constitute a minor proportion. These provide numerous natural products such as food feed medicinal raw material, and honey along with nonproduct-based ecosystem services. Grasslands in lowlands and mountains either in natural form or developed landscape can provide an added value in terms of ecotourism opportunities owing to having huge esthetic and recreational potential compared to uniform agricultural areas. Grasslands characterized by high species and habitat diversity-based ecotourism are nature-based tourism whereby people visit natural or developed areas for recreation, sight-seeing, permitted and controlled hunting, on-site purchase of organic products, etc., and are usually managed by adopting sustainable practices. Ecotourism generates multifaceted economic advantages for local communities such as direct sale of products to tourists. However, ecotourism may also have a variety of negative impacts when the tourists’ number multiplies which leads to overuse of resources. The most pronounced challenges confronted to the development of grasslands for ecotourism include lack of community cooperation, careless herders, need of hefty investment, and absence of trained human capital along with climate change and loss of biodiversity

Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based Self-Powered Tilt Sensor

This work focuses on the fabrication and evaluation of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based self-powered tilt sensor. The proposed fabricated structure is composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), steel ball, gold (Au) as electrode and circular ring housing. A specific configuration of electrodes was used to measure the tilt at different angles. FEM simulations were used to verify the electric potential at the electrodes at different angles. The outputs of the fabricated sensor were measured at different angles from 0 to 360°. A sensitivity of 254 mV/rad is obtained in single axis. The TENG based tilt sensor generates an open circuit voltage of 450 mV at 10 MΩ